ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The Kurdistan Region’s Presidency on Tuesday reiterated the Region’s “full support” for the establishment of a Palestinian state, amid a surge of statehood recognitions by Western nations in pursuance of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“We in the Kurdistan Region reaffirm our full support for the right of self-determination for the Palestinian people and the establishment of their state within the framework of legitimacy and international law,” wrote the Kurdistan Region’s presidency on Tuesday.

“As a people who have sacrificed greatly for our freedom and legitimate rights, we look with respect at the struggle and sacrifice of the Palestinian people for freedom, and we have had Palestinian representation in the Kurdistan Region for many years,” the statement noted, drawing parallels between the Kurdish people’s liberation struggle and that of the Palestinians.

The 80th iteration of the UN’s General Assembly began Tuesday, under the theme “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development, and human rights.” The assembly gathers world leaders in New York from 22 to 30 September at a time characterized by multiple global crises converging—genocide, wars, economic slowdown, climate pressures, and rising mistrust in international institutions.

The General Assembly debates are set to begin the day after a conference on the New York Declaration on Monday, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, that seeks to lay the groundwork for a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“We emphasize the unchanging position of the Kurdistan Region that war and killing do not solve any problem,” the statement further noted. “For everyone to live in peace, stability, and tranquility, wars and armed actions must stop, coexistence and peace must be established, and according to human values and international law, the legitimate rights of the peoples of the region, security, dignified life, and justice for all must be achieved and guaranteed.”

Several Western countries, including France, the UK, and Canada, among others, recognized a Palestinian state this week in a step to legitimize a two-state solution for the conflict. France announced its recognition during a UN summit on a possible two-state solution on Monday, a day after the UK, Portugal, Australia, and Canada announced that they recognize the State of Palestine on Sunday.

Israel’s genocide in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 65,000 Palestinians and the wounding of more than 165,000, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Vast areas of Gaza have been razed to the ground, displacing the majority of the territory's 2 million inhabitants.

The winds of change regarding Palestinian statehood have blown across Europe as Israel's punitive campaign in Gaza has dragged on.